nail someone down Definition

nail
noun

1. The outer structure, composed of keratin, that grows from a tuck in the skin and protects part of the fleshy tip of a finger or toe.
2. A metal spike hammered into something, eg to join two objects together or to serve as a hook.

Thesaurus: peg, stud, pin, rivet, screw, spike, staple, tack.

verb nailed, nailing

1. To fasten something with, or as if with, a nail or nails.

Thesaurus: hammer, drive, spike, pound, beat, hit, hold, bind, clinch, fasten, fix, tack, pin, secure.
2. colloq
To catch, trap or corner someone.
Thesaurus: capture, detain, apprehend, catch, collar (slang).
3. To detect, identify or expose (a lie or deception, etc).

Derivative: nailer
noun

A maker of nails.

Derivative: nailery
noun

A place where nails are made.

Idiom: a nail in one's coffin (a nail in the coffin)

Any event or experience, etc that has the effect of shortening one's life.

A contributory factor in the downfall of anyone or anything.

Idiom: hard as nails

Callous; unsympathetic; unsentimental.
Thesaurus: steely, tough, hard-nosed (slang), callous, unfeeling, cruel, remorseless.

Idiom: hit the nail on the head

To pinpoint a problem or issue exactly.

To describe something in terms that sum it up precisely.

Idiom: nail one's colours to the mast

See under colours.

Idiom: on the nail

colloq
Immediately.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon nægl: from German Nagel.

Phrasal Verb: nail someone down

To extract a definite decision or promise from them.

Phrasal Verb: nail something down

To fix it down with nails.To define or identify it clearly.